Jump in asylum seeker HIV cases

THE NT Health Department says a 50 per cent spike in the number of HIV cases detected is mainly due to screening of asylum seekers in Darwin detention centres.

Statistics from the department's annual report show the number of HIV notifications increased from 18 in 2011-12 to 30 in 2012-13.

"The number of HIV notifications was higher than estimated mainly due to cases being diagnosed from newly introduced screening for people arriving by boat without a visa," the report said.

The number of detected cases has increased fivefold from just six notifications in 2010-11.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison outlined testing, education and prevention measures aimed at curbing the spread of the blood-borne virus within detention centres. But concerns about the standard of health care within immigration detention persist.

Darwin-based advocacy group DASSAN said yesterday that a woman attempted suicide at Blaydin Point on December 29.

DASSAN spokeswoman Emma Murphy said parents had told the group the environment was having a marked effect on their children.

"There are no maternal and child health nurses working inside detention for these women," she said.

The Australian Medical Association last year raised concern about the level of primary healthcare in detention facilities, based on a Medical Journal of Australia audit of the Royal Darwin Hospital emergency department.

The audit found that half the immigration detainees in Darwin attended the emergency department at least once in 2011.

A statement released by Mr Morrison's office said HIV testing for newly arrive asylum seekers was introduced in August 2012 in consultation with sexual health groups.